Linux Kernel 3.6 Is Available for Download

Linus Torvalds announced yesterday, September 30th, that first stable version of Linux kernel 3.6 is now available for download.

The stable version of Linux kernel 3.6 could have been replaced by the eighth release candidates for this particular branch, but Linux Torvalds considered that it wasn't necessary.

[admark=1]The changes implemented in this version, compared with the seventh release candidate are small, but important nonetheless.

“The changes that got merged this week were generally pretty tiny, but more importantly, they tend to be small or very unlikely/special things. Famous last words,” said Linus Torvalds.

No new architecture or filesystem has been added, which means that Linux kernel 3.6 is more like a maintenance release.

The father of Linux has also explained that the merge window for the upcoming Linux kernel 3.7 is now open and he warned people that he would be doing a lot of traveling in the next few months.

“I do want to note that I'm going to travel much of this merge window. Let's see how much that impacts my merging, but I hope that it won't be *that* noticeable. But in case it results in any problems, I'll just give a heads-up, and if worst comes to worst I'll just extend the merge window to give myself moretime for merging. I aim to avoid it, but I'll note it here just in case it happens,” Torvalds argued.

If you want to check a complete list of updates, implemented from the previous release candidate into this stable version, just read the official announcement.

You should also check out the discussion between Greg Kroah-Hartman, Sarah Sharp, Ted Ts'o, and Linus Torvalds, at the LinuxCon North America 2012. Linus took the time to explain what makes him happy when he closes a merge window and why the new Linux kernels are so important.